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510 Belknap Place
San Antonio, TX, 78212
United States

2107363132

Christ Episcopal Church is a loving and welcoming church family, centrally located in the historic Monte Vista District of San Antonio, Texas. Our sanctuary is one of the most peaceful and beautiful churches in the country, but the real beauty of our church is our people. We are a large church, but with a small, familial feel and lots of ways to become involved.

Sunday Morning

Sunday at CEC


This page is updated weekly by Thursday afternoon

 

Sunday, September 28, 2025
The SIXteenth Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite Two

Service from the Book of Common Prayer (BCP)  Congregational participation in bold

Prelude

Welcome, all seated

LITURGY OF THE WORD

Hymn, all standing for the procession of the Cross

“Crown him with many crowns” Hymn 494: 1-3, 5

Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne;
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own;
awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless King through all eternity.

Crown him the Son of God before the worlds began,
and ye, who tread where he hath trod, crown him the Son of man;
who every grief hath known that wrings the human breast,
and takes and bears them for his own, that all in him may rest.

Crown him the Lord of life, who triumphed o’er the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife for those he came to save;
his glories now we sing who died, and rose on high,
who died, eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.

Crown him the Lord of heaven, enthroned in worlds above;
Crown him the King, to whom is given the wondrous name of Love.
Crown him with many crowns, as thrones before him fall,
crown him, ye kings, with many crowns, for he is King of all.


Opening Acclamation
BCP 355

Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Children who are in Pre-K 4 through 3rd grade are invited to the front during the Song of Praise to meet the chapel leader holding the cross at this time. We will bless them and send them to Children’s Chapel. They will return after the sermon to join their families for Communion.


Song of Praise

“Gloria” Josh Benninger1

Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth. 
Lord God, heavenly King, Almighty God and Father, 
we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. 
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, 
you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; 
You are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. 
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Blessing of the Children BCP 829

Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen

Collect of the Day BCP 230

The Lord be with you.  And also with you.  Let us pray. 

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.


The Lessons BCP 357

Old Testament:  Jeremiah 32:1-15

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of King Zedekiah of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar. At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and the prophet Jeremiah was confined in the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah, where King Zedekiah of Judah had confined him. Zedekiah had said, ‘Why do you prophesy and say: Thus says the Lord: I am going to give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it; King Zedekiah of Judah shall not escape out of the hands of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye; and he shall take Zedekiah to Babylon, and there he shall remain until I attend to him, says the Lord; though you fight against the Chaldeans, you shall not succeed?’

Jeremiah said, The word of the Lord came to me: Hanamel son of your uncle Shallum is going to come to you and say, “Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.” Then my cousin Hanamel came to me in the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the Lord, and said to me, “Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.” Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.

And I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales. Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions, and the open copy; and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel, in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in the court of the guard. In their presence I charged Baruch, saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, in order that they may last for a long time. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.


The Psalm: Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 BCP 701

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, *
abides under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 He shall say to the Lord,
“You are my refuge and my stronghold, *
my God in whom I put my trust.”

3 He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter *
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He shall cover you with his pinions,
and you shall find refuge under his wings; *
his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.

5 You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, *
nor of the arrow that flies by day;

6 Of the plague that stalks in the darkness, *
nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.

14 Because he is bound to me in love,
therefore will I deliver him; *
I will protect him, because he knows my Name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; *
I am with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and bring him to honor.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, *
and show him my salvation.

The Epistle: 1 Timothy 6:6-9

There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time-- he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.


Hymn,
all standing

“O holy city, seen of John” Hymn 583: 1

O holy city, seen of John,
where Christ, the Lamb, doth reign,
within whose foursquare walls shall come
no night, nor need, nor pain,
and where the tears are wiped from eyes 
that shall not weep again!


The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St.Luke. Glory to you, Lord Christ.

The Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said, “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, `Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ But Abraham said, `Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ He said, `Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house-- for I have five brothers-- that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, `They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ He said, `No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

The Gospel of the Lord.  Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Hymn, all standing

“O holy city, seen of John” Hymn 583: 2

O shame to us who rest content 
while lust and greed for gain 
in street and shop and tenement 
wring gold from human pain,
and bitter lips in blind despair 
cry, “Christ hath died in vain!”


Sermon,
all seated The Rev.Brien Koehler 

After the sermon, brief silence is kept for meditation on God’s Holy Word.


The Nicene Creed, all standing BCP 358  

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. 

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.


Prayers of the People, Form IV, all kneeling or seated BCP 388

The leader will offer prayers. After each petition the leader will pray:

Leader: Lord in your mercy

People: Hear our prayer.

The Celebrant will add a concluding Collect.

The Officiant continues...

Confession of Sin BCP 360

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence is kept before offering the confession.

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

The Celebrant alone stands and gives the Absolution.

The Peace,
all standing
The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.


Announcements,
all seated


Offertory Anthem,
  all seated

“Treasures in Heaven” Joseph Clokey

Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt, 
and where thieves break through and steal,
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.


Doxology, all standing Old 100th

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host:
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. 


THE HOLY COMMUNION


The Great Thanksgiving,
all standing BCP 361

The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give him thanks and praise.

The communion prayer continues with the Preface which concludes: 

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:


Sanctus & Benedictus

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord” Hymnal S 129

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.


The Celebrant continues with the Eucharistic Prayer, all seated or kneeling...

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

The Celebrant continues with the Eucharistic Prayer which concludes:

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Celebrant breaks the consecrated bread and a period of silence is kept. 

“Christ Our Passover” Hymn S–154

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

All baptized Christians who are permitted to receive Holy Communion in their own church are welcome to do so on this occasion. To receive consecrated bread, place one hand over the other with palms facing upward. To receive the consecrated wine, help the Eucharistic Minister guide the chalice to your lips. If you are not receiving the sacrament, come forward to the altar, cross your arms over your chest and the clergy will give you a blessing.


Hymn, all sitting and joining the choir in singing

“I come with joy to meet my Lord” Hymn 304

I come with joy to meet my Lord, forgiven, loved, and free,
in awe and wonder to recall his life laid down for me.

I come with Christians far and near to find, as all are fed,
the new community of love in Christ’s communion bread.

As Christ breaks bread and bids us share, each proud division ends.
That love that made us makes us one, and strangers now are friends.

And thus with joy we meet our Lord. His presence, always near,
is in such friendship better known: we see, and praise him here.

Together met, together bound, we’ll go our different ways,
and as his people in the world, we’ll live and speak his praise.

Post Communion Prayer, all kneeling, the Celebrant says

Let us pray. BCP 366

Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food  of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of your Son,  and heirs of your eternal kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.


The priest offers God’s blessing


Hymn, all standing

“O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling” Hymn 539: 1-2

O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling,
to tell to all the world that God is Light;
that he who made all nations is not willing
one soul should fail to know his love and might.

Publish glad tidings: tidings of peace,
tidings of Jesus, redemption and release.

Proclaim to every people, tongue, and nation
that God, in whom they live and move, is Love:
tell how he stooped to save his lost creation,
and died on earth that all might live above.


Let us go forth in the name of Christ. 
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!


Hymns from Hymnal 1982, Lift Every Voice and Sing (LEVAS) II and Wonder, Love and Praise (WLP) are reprinted under OneLicense.net.   1 © 2017 by Josh Benninger. All rights reserved.

The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Both used by permission.